Dart game target



March 31, l953 n Q F FLEIGLE 2,633,360

DART GAME TARGET Filed' Nov. 2, 1951 lill:

IN VEN TOR.

le .CHARLESEFLEIGLE BY Patented Mar. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE "DART GAME TARGET Charles Fleigle, York, Pa.

Application November 2, 1951,.Serial.No.iZ.54,-'550 5 Claims. 1

vThis 'invention -relaixes to :improvements in a dartgame target.

Var-iouskinds of dart games Vand targetslthereforhave been provided heretofore but most of these targetshave been quite limited inpurpose and, when the target was used to a considerable extent in one ormoreareas of the target it was necessary to discard the whole target and substitute anew one for it.

'It is the object of the present invention to provide Aa dart 4game target of unique arrangement so as to increase the scope of the number of games which may be played with vdarts when thrownat the target.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dart game target which can be illuminated so that it may be used for outdoor play after dark.

It is still another object to not-only illuminate the dart game target areaat which darts are thrown but also arrange the target so that the source of illumination which renders the target area yvisible will also illuminate the playing area in the rear of the target visible so `asto facilitate retrieving vdarts which yhave missed the target.

A-still rfurther object of the invention is to arrange the target with replaceable target blocks so thatin the event any individual block becomes Worn beyond further'usa itmay readilybe replaced inexpensively 'and quickly without vrequiring the entire target to be discarded as has heretoforeusually been necessary.

'One-.further YObjectis to provide an lelongated vertical nsupport to which arow oftarget blocks are arranged and, in `one embodiment of the-invention, sai-d target'blocksare made of wood and the V'grain thereof extends transversally 'so `as to eliminate or minimize Vchipping of the target blocks particularly adjacent Athe vertical side edges of the block Aassembly-on the vertical support.

It is still another yobject of the invention to support 4the Velongated vertical `target by post meanswhich may be driven into an earth playing-field, 'for-example, and additional means are also provided Awhich may be inserted kinto the playing ield fso as to prevent turning ofthe target about 'theaxis'o'f the post.

Details of the :foregoing objects and of the invention as well as other 'objects thereof are set forth inthe following'specication and illustrated 'in "the accompanying drawing forming 4a part thereof.

In vthe drawing:

`1 is a vertical side elevation of the dart :game `"target embodying the principles Vof the present invention, the target -being shown mounted for use on an earth playing field.

Fig. 2 is .a front view of the dart ygame target showninFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of apart of the target to illustrate certain details thereof and being shown in ya larger scale than in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring .to the drawing, a vertical elongated support Il) is provided which. inthe preferred embodiment of the invention, may be formed from `wood. Said support preferably has a Vfiat forward surface Vto which a plurality of target blocks l 2 are attached by .any suitable means such as wood screws I4 which are inserted through the support I0 and into the rear surfacesof the target blocks I2 Ias is clearly shown in Figs. v1 and 3.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the target blocks I2 are formed from Wood and the grain thereof extends transversally `to the vertical aXisof the target. By this arrangement, when the darts strike the blocks near the side edges, chipping ofthe blocks is minimized. To further minimize splintering or chipping 0f the blocks, as well as to prevent questions as to which block received a dart,each .block l2 has attached to one Ytransverse edge thereof a narrow. thin metal strip I6 which is secured thereto by a plurality 'of brads or nails I8. Only one strip need be attached'to each block and one edge of each strip I6 is preferably ush with the forward or target surface of the block I2.

1t will b'einoted from'the'fgures'that the blocks I2 lare arranged in close vjuxtapu'fsition in averticali row. It will thus'be seen that alternate .target blocks 'serve-readily to position the intermediate blocks therebetween and willprevent tipping or turning of Vsaid block relative to the support I0. Thus, only a single screw I4 need be used Vto `attach each block l2 tothe support I0.

Although it has been stated "that, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the target blocks I2 are formed from wood, it is to be understood that any lother suitable material may be used such as cork, leather, linoleum and the like which may be used'in either solid'form `orsheets or strips thereof may be glued or .cemented to wood, for example, in such 'a manner that the cork, leather or linoleum comprises the target surface of each block. Further, the blocks I2, regardless of ythe composition thereof, are provided with indicia 20 Vas clearly `shown in Fig. `2 for purposes of providing scoring facilities fand enabling the dart 'game target to tbe `used in playing a number of games such as, for example, baseball. The indicia 20, for example, may indicate respectively numbers of bases obtained by a contestant and, one of the target blocks I2 may have a circle 22 provided thereon and, if the dart hits within said circle, a home run may be indicated, for example. Any suitable score recording means, not shown, may be used.

Many variations of a relatively wide number of games may be played by two or more contestants, especially when two targets are used in spaced relation to each other. Teams of contestants may play these games with two spaced targets and part of one team will shoot from one target toward the other target and vice versa, thus minimizing the amount of walking required. The circle 22 may, for example, be formed from ixin wire and attached to the block I2 by staples The support I is shown mounted in playing position and is supported therein by post means 26 which may be driven into the earth or ground 28 when the same serves as a playing iield. If used indoors, it will be understood that the post 26 may be iixedly secured to a floor surface in any suitable manner. The post 26 is attached to the support Ill by a plurality of guide blocks 39 and 32. The block 32 is preferably splitand at two halves thereof are secured in clamping relationship relative to the post 26 by a pair of bolts 34 and wing nuts 36. The hole in the guide block 30 which receives the post 26 is substantially the same diameter as the post. Thus, when it is desired to mount the post 26 within the ground 28, the wing nuts 36 are loosened so that the post 26 may readily be driven into the ground without unduly jarring the target. Further means are also provided to aid in mounting the target relative to the post 26, said means comprising one or more spikes 36 which iixedly project from the lower end of the support I G and are preferably pushed into the ground 28 and the wing nuts 36 are then tightened to finally clamp the target to the post 26. It will be seen that the spikes 38 will especially prevent turning of the target about the axis of the post 28.

In order to increase the utility of the target comprising the present invention, the same is provided with illuminating means mounted at the upper end thereof. An enclosure generally indicated 46 is composed of sides 42, a back 44 and a front 46, as well as a top 48. The enclosure 40 is open at the bottom and the sides, back, front and top thereof are preferably formed from inexpensive material such as wood. Other material may be used if desired, however. A lamp socket 50 is secured to the top 48 so as to depend therefrom as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and an electric lamp bulb 52 is screwed into the socket 50.

The sides 42 are preferably provided with vent holes 54 and a double wire conductor cord 56 is connected to the socket 56 and extends down the yback of the support I0, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 particularly. A sufficient length of conductor cord is provided so that it may extend to a suitable power outlet socket. The free end of the conductor cord 56 is provided with a conventional pronged plug 58 for connection to said power outlet socket. The conductor cord 56, when not in use, may be wound around a pair of hooks 60 fixed to the back of the support I0, thus storing the conductor in compact and neat fashion. Further, when used in daylight, the conductor cord 56 may be retained in stored condition on the hooks 66 and, inasmuch as the entire conductor cord will be rearward of the target surfaces of the blocks I2, the conductor will not be harmed by darts thrown at the target.

It will be seen that the enclosure will compietely protect the lamp bulb from harm by darts thrown at the target. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, it has been stated that the enclosure 40 may be formed from wood and this is particularly so regarding the front 46 of the enclosure so that in the event darts hit the front 46, they will go into it without damaging the point of the dart. Further, to prevent chipping or splitting of the front 46 of the enclosure, the front 46, if formed from wood, is arranged so that the grain extends horizontally and the upper and lower edges have strips of leather 62, or other suitable material, fixed thereto and thereby preserve the edge portions of the front 45. A similar strip of leather or other suitable material 62 is fixed to the lower edge of the lowermost block I2 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Since the lower end of the enclosure 40 is open, the target surfaces of the blocks I2 are amply illuminated at night when the lamp 52 is lit. Not only will the target surfaces be illuminated but the playing field immediately in front of the target will also -be illuminated. To further facilitate night playing, the back 44 of the enclosure 40 is also provided with a relatively large aperture S4 so that light may shine therethrough onto the playing eld area rearward of the target and thus assist in retrieving darts which miss the target and land on the playing field in the rear of the target.

The enclosure 40 is readily attached to the upper end of the support I0 by any suitable means such as a pair of wood screws 6B as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In view of this arrangement, the targets may be manufactured either with or without the enclosure 40 and illuminating means therein. If the targets are manufactured without said enclosure and illuminating means, the space between the uppermost target block I2 and the upper end of the support I0 may be filled in by a narrow block so as to give the target a finished appearance. This arrangement reduces manufacturing costs in providing targets which can Abe sold either with or without illuminating.

means.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple and relatively inexpensive dart game targetwhich may` be used either in daylight or after dark to play` a wide variety of games between various numbers of contestants. The dart receiving area of the target primarily comprises a plurality of. target blocks which may individually be replacedy inexpensively and easily in the event any of them. become worn beyond further use. If formed,

.from Wood, the target blocksare arranged to inimize splintering and chipping and alternate blocks on the target support serve to positionv intermediate blocks therebetween, whereby only a single screw need be used to attach any indi-1 vidual block to the supporting strip. The sup-- porting strip or board IU may also preferably be of the same width and thickness as the material from which the target blocks I2 are formed,- thus further minimizing cost in manufacturing.

While the invention has been shown and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and de V scribed since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A dart game target comprising in combination, an elongated support member arranged to be mounted vertically, a series of target blocks of substantially uniform thickness detachably secured in juxtaposition in a vertical row to said support member, said blocks being of yieldable material adapted to receive and frictionally hold the point of a dart and alternate target blocks in said series serving to position an intermediate block, an enclosure comprising front and back members connected by side members, said back member being in a plane with and adjoining the top target block and fastened to the support member, and illuminating means mounted within said enclosure, the bottom of said en closure being open to permit illumination of said target blocks and the back member of said enclosure having an opening therein to permit illumination of the area behind said target and aid in retrieving darts which miss the target.

2. The dart game target of claim 1 further characterized by said enclosure having at least the front wall thereof formed of yieldable material capable of receiving and frictionally holding the point of a dart.

3. A dart game target comprising in combination, an elongated support member arranged to be mounted vertically, a series of target blocks of substantially uniform thickness detachably secured in juxtaposition in a vertical row to said support member, said blocks being of yieldable material adapted to receive and irictionally hold from said post means, said projection being arranged to be imbedded in said playing eld to prevent rotation of said target about the axis of said post means.

4. A dart game target comprising in combination, an elongated support member arranged to be mounted vertically, and a series of wooden target blocks of substantially uniform thickness and having even lengths and widths detachably secured in abutting relationship to each other in a vertical row and secured to said support member, said blocks having the grain thereof extending horizontally and parallel to the plane of said support member and alternate target blocks in said series serving to position an intermediate block therebetween.

5. A replaceable target block .for a dart game target comprising a rectangular wooden block of substantially uniform thickness, the thickness of said block being materially less than the length and width thereof and said block having a back surface and a target surface opposite the latter, and a thin metal strip xed to one edge only of said block and parallel to the grain thereof, one edge of said strip being substantially flush with the target surface of said block.

CHARLES F. FLEIGLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,201,527 Freeman May 21, 1940 2,372,111 Norberg Mar. 20, 1945 2,501,218 Hill Mar. 2l, 1950 2,538,118 Miller Jan. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 344,973 Great Britain Mar. 19, 1931 508,706 Great Britain July 5, 1939 513,490 Great Britain Oct. 13, 1939 

